Paddy Lake near Ashton: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Fremont County in Idaho is where Paddy Lake sits. It lies 6,306 feet above sea level. Surface area runs to about 3 acres — small enough to read in one session. Most waters listed here for Fremont County are larger. The nearest place of any size is Ashton, 16 miles away. Billings sits 175 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Paddy Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. Across Fremont County, recorded fish include rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, brook trout, sockeye salmon and Coho salmon. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. On Paddy Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 61°F in July and bottoms out near 18°F in January. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around late April. Averages place the thaw at late April and the freeze at late November. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. It sets the rhythm of the year at Paddy Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. Mapping records no facilities at all near this water. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. The nearest alternative is Tule Lake, 1.1 miles out. For Paddy Lake in particular, ask before you travel.